BAT - Troubleshooting & General Discussion

[Gwail 52]

Originally posted by: gtaki

Gn_Leugim:

I have mentioned this issue too. It happens after I installed gmaxHD. If you really need to change IID then you need to:

0. SHUT DOWN GMAX.

1. open the gmax script ModelNames.ms by any text editor, it is in gmax/gamepacks/BAT/scripts Back it up as well.

2. search for 00030000. Only one entry here

3. edit this to what you want, BUT BE CAREFUL. There's an article about the format of models' IID at SC4D

4. start gmax again and render your models.

the group ID can be edited by reader. after you export the model. I have used this method to do a group of offset sidewalk props. But you need to do this EVERYTIME you want a different IID...lolquote>

There is a way easier way to avoid that. All you have to do is to read careffuly this post. Cogeo perfectly described what's going on. Only two additional notes from me:

1. You have to get the original ModelNames.ms file (I suppose you have installed GMAX modelnames fix from EA site) - you can download it here (thanks to Cogeo).

2. You have to resave all GMAX file you want to export.

[IonWind 3]

Hi everybody, I suppose that this is the thread where to ask these questions;

How do I change the origin of an object in gmax?

I'm totally new to gmax, but I decided to give it a try. I'd like to convert some of my Sketchup creations for SC4. I've been using AutoCAD and Sketchup before.. But first I'd like to get an answer to the above question, please.

[autoVino 26]

I'm not quite clear what you mean by origin, you mean where the gizmo (the point about which any transformation is done, such as sclae, rotate, or move)? If you do, I don't think it can be done directly. One thing you can do, is convert your object to edit poly and move the verts until the original "origin" of the object is now where you would like it to be. Then exit out of edit poly and you have an object with the gizmo in a different location.

[SimFox 802]

Actually you can move the "origin" (as defined by Autovio). This "origin" is called Pivot of an object. To move it you would have to:

1. go to Hierarchy tab
2. make sure that Pivot button is pressed
3. press "Affect Pivot Only" button

after that you can move this pivot ("origin") to wherever you want it to be.

[kellydale2003 2,276]

Oh hey I think I've been having this problem too. Im pretty sure what he means is that an object off center from it's original crosshair and he wants it to be centered.

When clicking the move tool I had a few splines and objects that weren't directly in the center of object/spline. The "move/crosshair" cursor would be way off and sometimes not touching the object. And when you center the object to 0,0,0 - it would end up being way off. For now I've been editing splines carefully with a sub spline centered in the spline constructed. This way when the small sub spline is attatched to other splines it's fully centered.

But I'm pretty sure that's the answer right there Fox! thx again.

[LivingInThePast 364]

Here's another "theoretical" question to avoid disappointment down the road: can one make buildings with entrances on more than one level? I suppose it can be "faked" with custom foundations (making the foundation appear as if its part of the actual model, in this case) but it sounds risky.

[autoVino 26]

@Simfox: huh, to be perfectly honest I did not know that could be done in gmax. I thought it was strictly a 3ds max thing that appeared in 3ds max 2008 :-)

@LivingInThePast: The best way to have entrances that appear below ground would be via custom foundations. I don't know if it risky, it just sounds like it requires an extra render. I think plug-in manager has a tool for making custom foundations from models.

If you try to make lods that extend below ground you may end up with visual errors such as incorrect shadows and a jagged line where the model meets the ground (this all depends on your graphical display settings I do believe).

[LivingInThePast 364]

@Autovino: From the sounds of it, it all sounds pretty theoretical and never actually been done (and I wouldn't consider myself a BAT pioneer).

Question #2: In my signature, I state that my city does not have Bing Birds-Eye view but does have Street View. If I am relatively familiar with the building, could Street View have any help in proper scaling?

[Sky Guy 163]

Hi, sorry if this question has been asked before but...

I batted some simple houses and when I zoom out in the game all I see is the base of the lot and the building, but not the rest of the houses that are props. Also I tried putting my graphics all the way up and still nothing. How can I fix this?

Here is what they look like at all but the farthest zoom

 

And here it is at the farthest zoom- It is really annoying in region view 

Sorry for the small pic. Please help thanx

[Xyloxadoria 1,099]

Are any of thoose houses props? If they are, the the problem is that props dont show up in farther zooms by default.

But thats easy to fix. Just open up plugin manger, and find the props you made in the prop list

Then double click on the one that is your house prop. you should see the plugin mager window again.

When it opens, go to the advanced tab and change "AppearacneZoosFlag" to Zoom 1,2,3,4,5

that shold make it appear in all zooms.

[Sky Guy 163]

Wow thanks for the fast reply and the help- I will go do that now. Thanks again!

[patat met 4]

I have a real ***** question. How do you open a building in BAT? I can open it and it seems to work, but I can't open any files from the SimCity Deluxe map, just Gmax example files. I did read the FAQ but couldn't find it there.

[SimHoTToDDy 2,938]

Do you mean a model file for content that came with the game? If that is the case, I don't think you would like what you saw if you could open them up:

If not, I'm curious to understand what you mean.

[patat met 4]

Originally posted by: SimHoTToDDy

Do you mean a model file for content that came with the game? If that is the case, I don't think you would like what you saw if you could open them up:

If not, I'm curious to understand what you mean.

quote>

Yes, basicly that's what I meant.

I managed to use the lot editor fine but I want to make/alter some models of the buildings to make something new.

If that's not done with Bat, with what is it done?

[SimHoTToDDy 2,938]

Well, you would have to make a whole new model. As I showed you, the models you have access to are not the high poly editable type that you want, only the 3 sided boxes that the game uses.

If you want to use some pre-made stuff to start with, you can look around on the STEX for 3D models, otherwise you will need to start from scratch.

Best of luck,

-Todd

[los 0]

I have a question referring to the render-function of the BAT. I read the thread about the renders in the BAT but I think my problem is to essential. There is a tutorial for BAT modelling in the Omnibus of Knowledge which described how to render a model. Nevertheless I did not come to a solution. The author wrote that for rendering a model you should klick the Utilities button. Ok, I was so brilliant to make that. But the next step was klicking a BAT button which confused me as i do not have any BAT button anywhere. Could someone write me where i am able to find the BAT button or how to render a model at all, please.

[GlobexCo 33]

Want to render the scene from a custom camera? Click F10 and then click on "render" at the bottom right.

Want to render the scene from a Simcity Camera? So:

In the same panel where you find the solids, lights, hieracity,... you should see and hammer button, click on it and then you should see the BAT plugin window, where you can find the "preview" button. If you can't see it, probably you didn't installed correctly the BAT (is it under gamepacks?) or you have clicked on of the button you can find under the hammer (utilities) panel - I don't remember the name.

[Jasoncw 11,840]

You can rearrange existing buildings using the lot editor, but you can not modify .SC4Model files or the Maxis buildings using the BAT. You can only make new buildings using the BAT.

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

I have a problem with lighten on the game so I have reinstalled the Bat update and it said old File not found. However, a file of the same name was found. No update done since files contents do not match.  Is this the problem why the lights will not  come on at night on the building I have downloaded.

[madhatter106 3,903]

Let me try to understand this. You installed BAT, and installed the update. You've had problems with lighting in the game, so you "reinstalled the BAT update?" I'd imagine that's where there's trouble...I don't think you can reinstall an update, I think you would have to uninstall the whole thing, and then reinstall BAT and then try to update it again.

But then again, you said "I have a problem with lighten on the game," but don't tell us what that problem is. Maybe it has nothing to do with the BAT update; but you've given us no details, no diagnosis, no signs or symptoms to go on...

[SC4BOY 20]

A message like that indicates you have either modified the MAxis files (ie a crack, a copy not containing the original EA patches, modified with the "imagecfg" tool, etc) or possibly some pirate copy or patched with files from thre wrong regional version. The only way the patch will take is that you have the original CD version of the Maxis files

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

I need some help on how to make glass textures so my building windows look real. Making reflections can make my windows look good.

[BlackDragonAJ89 21]

Well, I'm not the best, but I figured up a solution for creating somewhat believable glass, although it requires a lot of color experimenting (I just got down with it a few moments ago).

First off, you'll want to create a gradient similar to this:

You'll need to mess around with colors a bit to "simulate" the color of the sky or something along those lines. Next, for the window, make it a .05m thick plane (that is as big as the area of the window) and apply the gradient as a 50-60 opacity texture. Next, you'll want to have something behind the window that you can put some kind of "junk image" on to resemble a reflection, say a photograph, picture of a city, or whatever that will resemble random things in front of the window.

I'm not sure if that could really help, but it's worth a try.

[kellydale2003 2,276]

If your using gmax...good luck!

I reccomend 3ds max or blender.

[iamccman 2]

Hey Everyone! 
  If this is in the wrong topic, or if someone has already answered this already somewhere please let me know! But I have a question about Sketchup:

Can I use Sketchup to make models for Sim City 4? Can I create models of buidlings, texture them, etc. with Sketchup, and then how would I put that model onto a lot, then into SC4. Is that even possible? If I need to be a little more specific, please let me know, but I'm assuming someone has asked this question in the past.

Thanks!
 

[simcity4fan12 13]

Yes you can. I do it all of the time. You have to make a model, and export it in 3ds. format to import in gmax. Once in gmax, it's a good idea to rescale it(mainly vertically) and edit textures and then give your model night lighting and viola! You made a model with sketchup. Any more questions you have, just PM me! I'll be happy to help.

I'm still contemplating about writing a tutorial about the sketchup/gmax method.

[LivingInThePast 364]

Originally posted by: simcity4fan12

I'm still contemplating about writing a tutorial about the sketchup/gmax method.quote>

Please do.

[iamccman 2]

Whats the best template in Sketchup to use to create an SC4 Model?

[simcity4fan12 13]

I'd go with architectural. You could use engineering one too I think, since, if I remember correctly, it's meters and feet, while architectural is feet and inches.

[Xyloxadoria 1,099]

Originally posted by: simcity4fan12

I'd go with architectural. You could use engineering one too I think, since, if I remember correctly, it's meters and feet, while architectural is feet and inches.quote>

The BAT uses meters, so the better option would be to go with Engineering,  However,since you can scale your objects in gmax, you could really go either way.